Adding attachment for check-printers.



E. UCUMPAUGH, 20.

ADDING ATTACHMENT FOR CHECK PRINTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, 1914.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. OCUMPAUGH, 2D.

ADDING ATTACHMENT, FOR CHECK PRINTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, 1914.

Patented Apr 6, 1915.

3 SEEETSSH IET 2.

E. OCUMPAUGH, 2n.

ADDING ATTACHMENT FOR CHECK PRINTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI5,1914.

1,134,551, I I atentedApnfiJQlb.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Mum A illlll \lllllllfllllfil llllllllllllllllllllllllllllHl1 I STATESPATENT oF IoE.

, nmlm octntratron, as, or new ironx.

Torzll Be it known that I','iEnimxn 2d, a'.citizen of the Unit'ed-States, and.;r.esi'- dent ofrRochester; imthecountybfYMonroe and Stateof New York, have invented certain new andusefuli Improvements in AddingAttachments for Gheck-Pnnterh, of

- which the following is a' specification.

This invention it relates to machines for; printing numerical amounts,and particularly to machines of the kind lmown as check writing orChOk-Pl'llltlilg machines, by which the amounts are filled in onbank-checks. v

The object of the invention is to provide a machine, 'o f thetype mquestionpwith simple andreliable mech'anism for adding andregisteringthe sum-ofthe various numbers or amounts printed by: themachine. In' producing'addmg-mechamsm fora machine such asacheck-printing machine, in

- which decimal :nuinbersof several places are cordance Wlth thQ withthe positions or the type-wheels, and at a diiferenttime. I m v In acheck-printing machine the printlngtypes'are fi'rst set the properposition for the required amount by one manual operation, and theimpression from the types is then" caused by a distinct manualoperation. It is not practicable to coordinate the adding-mechanism withthe type-carrier in such a way as to cause theyadding-mechanismto,

register in consequence of the setting or selective movementofzthetype-carrier's, for the reason' that thetype-carriers are notmoved backto zero, or to any definite (point, after each printingoperation, and for the further reason that 'it'{ is not always Iconvenient,insettin theft pe-carriers, to move them immediate y'an;exactly to there quired-positio'n") f I 1 i puma Anson-um roncnncx-rnm'rm ipee tl eatioaothttenhten I f'a nmiu lam-m mam.lerlalIoJflJ.

Ocmauen, v

Patented Apr. 0, 1915.

Accordingly,another objectof the invention, is: to so connect the,adding-mechanism j 1 with the t carriers that the adding-mechamsm shenot register the amount of the selected types upon the type-carriersuntil theproduction of. animpression from these ty To this end I employadding-mechan n so constructed and, arranged that whiletheextent ofmovement imparted in each instance to the ad -wheels is determmed'inaccordance with e position occupied at the "moment by the t -can'iers,the power for so moving the a ding-wheelsis derlved from theimpresing-mechanism.

In a check-printi or 'similar machine the impressing o ration is oftenperformed by sub ect1ng a ever or other manually-operable part to asudden and severe pressure or blow, and therefore, if theimpressingmechamsm were connected positively and rigidly with theadding-mechanism, 'so as to a move the latter directly during theimpress- 'mg operatlon, the movement imparted to the adding-mechanismwould be too rapid and severe, so as to cause either injury to themechanism, or over-running of the adding-wheels.

Accordingly, another object of the inven- 1 tion is to avoid such suddenand severe op 'eratlon' ofthe adding-mechanism, and for this purpose Iemploy, in the first place, an arrangement in which theimpressing-movement of the impressing-mechanism is not employed toactuate the addin -mechanism,

but the latter is actuated part y by s ringcontrolled means, which aremerely re eased during the impressing-movement, and

I partly by power derive directly from the impressing-mechanism, butduring the return-movement of thelatter. For the same purpose Iemploymotion-retarding means, such asadash-pot; for retarding thisreturn-movement to a speed at which the adding-mechanism ma be safelyoperated.

Other objects 0 which the several objects are attained, will be setforth in connection with the followin description of the illustratedembodiment ,o the invention.

a In the accompanying drawin'gsz Figure 1 the invention, and the.features of construction and arrangement by is afront-elevation of acheck-printing machine embodying the present invention,with parts brokenaway vto show the interior mechanism; Fig. v2 is a vertical section onthe line 2+2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isa partial sectional view of the addingmechanism,

taken on the line3-3 in Fig. 2, but on'a larger scale; Fi 4 is averticalsection on the line 44 in ig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a frontelevation,of a portionof the adding-.mechaf nism, comprising two of theadding-wheels parts immediately associated his machinehas ahorizontalshaft. 6,, jo'urnaled'in a casing 7 and carrying a series oftype-wheels with peripheral types which may be brought selectivelybeneath a central opening in aworlesupport ng plate 8, wh ch forms thetop of the casing. The. check- .blank or other work'is forceddownwardly,

against the types which are in operative position, by means of a platen9, WhlCh may be depressed for thispurpose by a hand-lever 10.- In thismanner the paper is pressed against the types and is printed thereby,the

types being supplied'with ink by the usual: ink-rollers bearlng againstthe perlpherl'es of the type-carriers, as they are rotated intooperative position. v

The illustrated machine is what is commonly described specifically as acheckwriting machine, that is to say, a machine that is adapted to fillin the amount of a check not only by figures but also by words.Accordingly, it is provided with four typecarriers 11, 12, 13 and 14, inthe form of drums or wheels, thewheel 11 bearing types expressive ofeven numbers, up to one hundred, in words, the wheel 12 havingcorresponding numbers in" figlures, the wheel 13 bearing the word Do arsand various fractions of a dollar from 00/100 to 99/100 4 in figures,and the wheel 14 having the corresponding amounts in figures expresseddeeimally. Thus, is arranged to, print a check in the following form:Eighty-four & 34/100 Dollars -$84;34. It is, accordin 1y, necessary thatthe wheels 11 and 12 rotated always in unison in settin the machine forany required amount, while the wheels 13 and 14 must also be rotated inunison, but independently of the wheels 11 and 12. The movements of thewheels ll and 12 are controlled by a manually-rotatable member 15 fixedon the end of the shaft 6, the position of the wheels bein indicated bya graduated index-wheel 16, which turns with the shaft,

and which is viewed throu h a member 117 fixed to the casing andopening. The wheel 11 is keyed directly to the shaft 6 so as to turntherewith. The wheel 12 isnot fixed to the shaft, but turns loosely upona sleeve 17, which also turns orming a sightloosely on the shaft, andwhich is connected with the manually-rotatable member 18, by'

which the wheels 13 and 14am set. Both of the rows of type,

for example, the machine the wheels: 13 and 14- are keyed directly tothe sleeve '17 so as to turn therewith, and their positiongis indicatedby an index-wheel 19 and sight opening 20 at the right-hand"sideqof-themachine.

Since the wheel 12 must be mounted upon -thesleeve 17, in ordertointerpose it bet and 14, it cannot 1361.. fixed to. rotatedirectly;with,the shaft' 5, and v tween the wheels 13 7 its movements;are coordinated: of, thewheel, ll'fby gear-conned accordingl with thosetions With'thelatter For thispurpose the wheel 12 is provided I p ofgear-teeth 21 which engage a inion 22 1. fixed on a counter-shaft23journa ed; in the casing ofthe machine, and this counter-shaft with anannular series carries a second pinion 24, which meshes.

with gear-teeth 25 on the type-wheel 11. -1 To assist in setting thetype-'wheels exactly in any required position, they are provided withdetent-mecham'sm for arresting? them in a. position in which one oranother of their types are exactly beneath the platen 9. For thispurpose each of the wheels 11 a and 13 is provided with-an annularsurface 26, provided with rounded projections and depressionscorresponding gaged 'by spring-pressed slidm' gdetent-members 27 mountedin the casing, asshown in I The typesare inkedby'any ordinary. or asuitable means and for this purpose an inkroller 28 is shown in Fig.2,mounted in the casing in position to engage the types asthecorresponding type-wheel is rotated, andit will be understood thatsimilar ink-rollers are employed in connection with each of the 1 te-wheels. 7 t 7 he adding-mechanism comprises a series of adding-w eelsmounted upona-shaft 30,.

1n podtion with a y and these surfaces are ens which is fixed inhorizontal position in the l casing 7 of the printing-machine. The firstof these wheels 31 indicates amounts in cents from 0 to 9, the secondadding-wheel 32 in dicates cents in amounts from 10 to 90, the thirdadding-wheel amounts from 0 to 9, the fourth wheel 34 indicates dollarsin amounts from 10 to 90, and the fifth wheel 35, and any desired numberof other addin 33 indicates dollars in i g-wheels connected in seriestherewith, indlcate sums in dollars upu to any required amount,according to the 7 number of wheels provided, these wheels havingnumerals on their peripheries, as shown in Fig. 5. and the numeralsbeing visible at the front of the openings 36in the casing.

machine through a The means for transferring to the adding H wheels'theamounts impressed from the corresponding type-wheels are. as follows:

Alongside each of the adding-wheels 31, 32, 7 33 and 34, a pinion 37 isjournaled on the shaft 30, this pinion for thesake'of oompactness andtoaiford a bearing of suitable forms abea 'in the manner of a pawl, witha periphery of each adding-' was.

width, a hub which extends into and for the hub of the. adding wheel,althou :the pinion andsthe wheel are independently rotatable. The pinion37 fixgi waiting 38 in which a spring 39 is sp' isha to ads. t it tooperate iii the mannergi a paw inconnection with a series ofratchetteeth 40 integral with the adjacent addingwheel. Accordingly,when the pinion is rotated in a clockwise direction,-;as" the p'arts areshownin f2 and 4, theadding wheel is caused to rotate with it,"whereasmovement of the pinion in the oppositedirection wp szf y" over. tratchet-teeth, and retrograde movementi'of causes the spri theadding-wheeli at this time is prevented by' a spring 41 (Fig.2), which006 rates,

portion 42 of the wheel. a e

Each pinion 37is actuated by a gear-segment 63, which is journaled onthe sleeve 17, as .shown in Fig. 2. Each segment is provided, at itsrear extremity, with a in 44 which coiiperates withan arm45, fixe upon arock-shaft 29 which is journaled in the casing 7. This rock-shaft isactuated by means of an arm 46-, which has a pin-andslot connection witha rod .47 extending upwardly at the rear of the machine. The rod 47 ispivoted at 48 to the rear end of. the hand-lever 10 by which the platen9 is actuated, this hand-lever being pivoted at'49, on 1 an overhangingarm 50' extending over the work-support 8 of themachineg This arm 50also provides a bearing for the plunger which carries the I this plungerengaging the lower surface of the lever 10, and the plunger and thelever being normally held in the position of Fig. 2 by a powerful spring52. g 1

When the forward end'of the hand-lever 10 is depressed, to cause animpression, the

rod 47 is raised, the rock-shaft'29 is rocked, and the arm 45 isdepressed. At thistimethe gear-segment 63 is not directly actuated byits connections. with the impressingmechanism, but, through thedisengagement of the pin 44 bythe arm 45, movement of the segment ispermitted under the influence of a spring 53 which is connected, at itsupper end, with the pin 44:, and fixed at its lower end to a horizontal,rod 54 mounted in the casing. Accordingly, when the handlever isdepressed the segment 63. is swung in a direction to rotate the pinion37 counter-clockwise. 'Upon the termination of the impressing-movement,when the hand-lever 10 is released, the spring 52 returns the parts tonormal position, thus. causingfthe rockshaft 29 to be rocked in theopposite direction so as to raise the arm 45 and cause it to' engage thepin 44, whereby the gear-segurled' platen 9, the end 51 of mama, beckamt 'tion, and

the spring? is gl l exten Since this is theoperative movement of thearts b which the adding-wheelsare rota ,it w' be apparent that theextentflof movement of eachadding-Wheel depends upon the extent oftheflmovement impartedto the corresponding gear-segment 63. This is'deter-' mined automatically b stop-mechanism, which will now be descrie type-wheel 12. The stopplates '55 and each-divided into 'ten segments,of which each is providedwith ten stetpls 57 at graduated radialdistances from a eaxis of the stop-plate, the ten spaces in eachsegment-corresponding to'the ten digits, in theunitsplaoe on the wheel12 or 14, associated with each digitin the tens place on the same wheel.A- stop-pin 58 is -mounted in the upper end of a link 59 pivoted to eachgear-segment 63, associated with theadding-wheelfil or 33, and one endof thls pin is guided in a vertical slot in one of a series ofcross-bars 60 fixed in the easmg 7, whlle the other end of each stop-pincooperates with one of the stop-plates 55 or 65. Accordingly, the idlemovement of the gear-segment 63 is limited in extent by the engagementof the's'top-pin with one or another of the steps 57, so that upon thereturn-movement of the gear-segment the rotation imparted to theadding-wheel 31 or 331s proportionate to'the amount of the significantdigit in the units-place on the type-wheel 14 or 12, thatistoi say, tothe amount expressed by the digit which is in .positionto produce animpression upon the corresponding to zero, no movement ofthegear-segment willoccurupon the performance of an impressing: operation,and therefore the adding-wheel 33'will receive no rotation.

The adding-wheels 32 and 34 are moved by means analogous to thoseemployedto actuate the wheels 31 and 33, but in this case the stop-pin61 cooperates with the stop-plate 56 or 66. The gearing and check blank.In Fig. 2 the parts are in such ratchet-mechanism are similar in all re-Y spects to those already described. Sincethe amounts of. the digitsinthe tens places on the type-wheel 12 or H-changes only at ten pointsabout the periphery of the wheel, the stop-plates 56 and 66 have onlyten graduated steps about their entire peripheries, as shown in Fig.2. ISince'the idle movements of the gear-segas as a above the i2 7 -mentsislimitedjb e strength of the alluconditions, it is desirable to retardthis return-movement tosome degreegto prevent violent operation of theaddmg-mechamsm,

and accordingly I employ a dash-pot as shown in Fig.2, dash-p0tcomprisingay piston 67 which is pivoted to the lower end of the rod.47,- and' which moves in a cylinder. 68 fixed tothe back of the casing7. .Ilponv the upward movement of the piston air is.- admitted to thecylinder througha checkvalve 69, but. thedownward movement of the pistonis resisted by the pressure of the air, so as to retard the returnmovement of the.

mechanism. This retardation may be adjusted by means of a valve 70 inthe piston, controlling an escape-vent from the'cylinder. In addition toretarding the" returnmovement imparted to the gear-segment 43,

thedash-pot has the furtheradvantage that.

at the beginning of the return-movement of the impressing mechanism itretards this movement sufliciently to permitthe completion of the .idlemovement of the gear-segments by the springs '53, and for the samepurpose the arms aremade tohave a downward movement of greateramplitudethe pins 44-by the springs 53. I a

- The carrying-mechanism associated with the adding-wheels will now bedescribed.

than]. the maximum movement imparted to Beneath each of the.adding-wheels 32, 33

and 34 a-bar 71 is arranged, this bar being slidingly mounted atits-ends-in hearings in the casing-7. .A spring 72 connectedwith eachbar tends to draw it to its foremost po sition, and a spring-pressedpawl 73v pivoted 1 on the-bar engages a series of ten ratchet-teeth 74formed on the adding-wheel 32, 33,0r 34, so that at each forwardmovement of the bar the wheel is rotated through one space. Each bar ismoved rearwardly by means of one of a series of arms 75 loosely mountedon the rock-shaft 29, the arm having a lost-motion connection with theshaft through :a pin and slot 76, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.,The arms 75 enga e pins 77 on thebars 71, and the action of t elost-motion connection is suchthat during the impressing movement of themachine the first part of the rotation of the rock-shaft 29.

has noeflect upon the arms 75, but the latterpart of this movementcauses'the arms. 75 to swing rearwardly, thus moving the bars "(1 rearwardly,.if, of them happen tolbe in forwardposition. When a bar 71 reachespleted. As the therein by of 5 i "t a (We t e f on of the machine, whic,engages a nomh 79 on-ithe bottom'of theme; Incas'e thepawl 78,- hrreasons-hereinafter described, is not in position-to arrest' 'the bar,the bar. is

arrested'bymeansof a sprin'g pre'ssedfpawl be. -Thispin 84 is so locatedthat itmay en nearithe eaper the machine, which ens j ag'esanoteh'81"in"the bottom of the bar; ach pawl 7 Bisfixed "on a shortrock-shaft 7 i'82," whichisjournaledjin a fixed part of the ifrarne ofthe machine; and "each rock-shaft -carr1es, at its other end, a tripjarm 83w ich' cooperates with a trip-pin 84 mounted 311* "the addingwheel 31, 32 or 33 as the'case may gage the corresponding trip-arm '83when the adding-wheel which carries the pin arrives at a position inwhich the figure 9 upon it disappears from the sight-opening 36 and thefigure 0 appears This is the point at which a unit should be carried tothe next .succeedlng adding-wheel. Accordingly, supposing theimpressing-movement of the machine to have been made during thesucceeding return-movement. of the parts, each bar 71 will be held inits normal rearward position by. the pawl 78, unless the adding-wheel berotated, during this return-movement, sufliciently to bring the pin 84into engagement with the trip-arm 83. If this occurs the arm and thepawl 78 will be depressed,

thus releasingthe pawl from the slide-bar,

and the bar will thereuponbe moved forward slightly by the spring 72,but will be termined by the stop-plate 57 and the mechanismassociatedtherewith, has been comimpressing-mechanism finally reachesits normal posltion, however,-

momentarily arrested by the pawl 80, until i the rotation of theadding-wheel 31, as deforward, end i of .the pawl 80, sufliciently todepress this pawl out of engagement with the notch 81, and since theslide-ban has already been released by the pawl 78, the

spring 72 will then draw it forward, thus causing one adding-wheel. tobe rotated through one. additional space, corresponding to thelwhich-shouldbe carried up from the adding-wheel next below. Theoperation of this carrying-mechanism is such that in case the amountcarried, for example, from the wheel 31 to. the wheel 32 happens to turnthe latter wheel through the space from 9 to 0, the wheel 32 will causethe release of the next succeeding carrying-mecham and thuscarry .a unitto the wheel 33, and thus, in fact, allof the carrying-mechanism, mayoperate in rapid succession, if ne :essary, v after the completion ofthe re- ;turn-movement of the impressing-mechamsm, Whenever thecarrying-mechanisms are'so operated theyare' immediately reset,

upon the next impressing-movement of the machine, in the manner abovedescribed.

Since the adding-wheel 35 and the higher wheels in the series arerotatedonly by units carried from the lower wheels, these higher wheelsmay be actuated by any ordinary or suitable carrying-mechanism, such asthe usual mutilated gear -87, on the rim of the wheel 34 in F-ig, 3, andpinionsw88 and'89 connecting thismutilated gear with gear-teeth on theadding-wheel '35.

In order'that the adding-wheels ma be reset to zero position wheneverdesirab e, a

series of. knurled rollers 90 are 'journaled in front of theadding-wheels, in position to engage the knurled surfaces thereon, theserollers being accessible through openings in i front of the casin sothat they ma" be rotated by hand.

each; of the knur ed surfaces .on the addin -wheels,", as shown in Fig.4 in'the case 0 the surface 42 on the wheel 32, is provided with a notch91, so

located that when the addingswheel reaches zero position the engagementbetweenthe wheel and the roller will be interrupted, thus causing thewheel to be arrested automatically at zeroposition.

' In order to prevent a too sudden movement of the bars 71 of thecarrying-mechanism, when released by the pawls 80 and "83, the left-handend ofeach bar is pref-V erably' formed as a piston 86 closely fitting acylindrical bore inthe frame of the machine, and this arrangement hasthe efiect of a dash-pot, which retards the return movement of the bars.7

V The general operation of the machine is as follows: The user places acheck-blank upon the work-support 8, face downward,

and so adjusts it as to bring beneath the platen 9 the line uponwhichcth'e amount hand-lex'er 10 after the pr of the check is tobeprinted. The'user then turns the hand-wheel 15 until the requirednumber of dollars is visible through the sight-opening 117, and turnsthehandwheel 18 until the required number of cents is visible through thesight-opening 20. By

the performance of these setting operations the several stop-plates 65and 66 are brought to the positions in which they will suite lycontrol'the subsequent movement of the add-c gear-segments 63 are allreleased, so that they are swung upwardl by the springs 53, to an extentdetermined y the several stopplates. The user immedlateola releases thethe hand-lever any of notion of an impression, whereupon theimpressingmechanism returns to normal I a movement which is retarded bythe dashpot. During this return-movement all of the gear-segments 63 areSW 7 the arms 45 to their normal position, thus producing rotativemovement'of theseveral addingiwheels according tathe extent of movementof the corresponding gearsegments.' Finally, as theimp-mec anism and-thearms returnfully to' norposition by back by mal position, the pawls 'arealllde'p, 4

and the carrying-mechanism then operates in the case of any'of thewheels to which a unit should be carried from the next wheel below, asdetermined by the positions, of the trip-pins 84 the trip-arms 83, andthe pawls 7 8. While the o ration'sabove'described, except for the pacing of the blank and the 7 setting of the type-wheels, always in thedescribed sequence, the. time so that no interval tween them isappreciable by the operator of the machine, and the movements of theimp-mechanism are not sufiiciently retarded to dimin- .ish the practicalspeed of operation oflthe machineas a whole. I I a My invention is notlimited to the embodiment thereof hereinbeforejdescribed and allustratedin the accompanying drawings,

- ut it may be embodied in various other forms within the nature of theinvention as it is defined in the following claims.

I claim I I The combination, with a printing-maclnne comprising atype-carrier movable to bring various types selectively into operativeposition, and impressing-mechamsm movable to cause an impression fromsaid yp of adding-mechanism, means, actuated by connection with theimpressing-mechanism,

I occupied by these ofirations is very slight,

for moving the adding-mechanism, and' means,"actuated by the-selectivemovement of the type-carrier, for determining the extent of movementimparted "tothe adding-' mechanism.v

2. The combination,with a printing-machine comprising' a type-carriermanually movable to bring various t into operative position, animpressing mechanism manually movable to cause an impression from saidtypes; of add1ng-- mechanism, means, actuated by connection with theimpressing-mechanism, for movselectively ing the adding-mechanism; and aseries of graduated stops movable selectivelfy into position by theselectivemovement o carrier, and eratin with the means or.

moving the adding-nice anism'to determine the extent of movement mpartedto said mechanism.

3.- Thecombination, with a printing-machine comprisin amanually-rotatabletypecarrier provide with a peripheral series 0' typesexpressive of various amounts, a platen for pressing a blank intoengagement with the types, and manually-operable means for actuating theplaten; of a set of addingwheels; means, connected with theplatenaotuating mechanism and actuated thereby, for rotating theadding-Wheels; and a graduated stop-plate rotatable with thetype-carrier and adapted to arrest the movement of the means by whichthe type-Wheels are rotated after varying degrees ofmovementcorresponding with the respective amounts indicated by the types on thetypecarrler.

4. The'combination, with a printing-machine comprising a type-carriermanually movable to bring various types selectively into operativeposition, and impressingmechanism manually movableto cause an impressionfrom -said types; of addingmechanism; means, including anactuatingspring, for actuating the adding-mechanism; means, actuated inconnection with the type-carrier, for determining the degree of movementimparted to the adding-mechanism by its said actuating-means; asettingspring; mechanism, connected with the impressing-mechanism andwith the actuatingmeans of the adding-mechanism, for tensing mechanism;spring-actuated means for movmg the addlng-mechanism; sprlng-actuatedmeans, connected with and controlled by the impressing-mechanism, forreleasing the adding mechanism actuating means upon an operativemovement of the impressingmechanism, and for resetting said means uponthe return-movement of the impressing-mechamsm; and means for retardingsaid return-movement during the operative movement of theadding-mechanism-actuating means. I

EDMUND OCUMPAUGH, 2n; Witnesses:

' GEORGE H. HARRIS,

FARNUM F. DORSEY.

